Archives for September 2012

‘The Sabres’ goal is to make downtown a hockey destination. It’s why they’re purchasing the Webster Block and connecting two ice rinks to First Niagara Center. It’s why they are embracing the inaugural All-American Prospects Game, a USA Hockey production that will take place Saturday in the arena.’

‘”I wanted to play with a buddy, and my agent just went out and got me and Spurge a nice little spot in Langnau, so I’m pretty excited,” Ennis said. “All I can say is that I hope ends as quick as possible, but for now I’m looking forward to trying to improve my game with the Langnau Tigers and try and improve at center.”‘

‘“I have a good opportunity to stay in game shape,” Ennis told the Gazette. “It’s great hockey over there. I’m going to be playing with my best friend I grew up playing with my whole life. It’s a pretty cool opportunity for us to play together, live together, experience Europe. So I’m really excited.”’

‘”Obviously, you want to be in camp,” Biron said. “I’d much rather be heading to City right now, but you’ve got to continue working on the process and continue working with the league to get a CBA worked all out. That’s what we’re concerned about now.”‘

‘“I think the anger and frustration comes from knowing what the owners are capable of under the guidance of Gary Bettman,” Miller said in an e-mail. “They are willing to let a season burn as shown in 2004-05, and it is a path that they are comfortable taking as their choice form of negotiating.”‘

‘I don’t pretend to understand all the ins and outs of the NHL collective bargaining agreement and the mechanics of a lockout. This time, if not the last, I tend to come down more on the side of the players than the owners … but then I’ve always tended more toward the rank-and-file than the people-sitting-in-the-big-office sorts. But at the same time, neither can I truly relate with people who are ultimately getting paid more money than I’ll ever see … to play a game.’

‘The unusual sight of a world star at the Krefeld ice is not: Although Ehrhoff after the sensational title win in 2003, the penguins left in the direction of North America, he returned every summer and stayed fit regularly with his old club. “He’s one of us,” said captain Herberts Vasiljevs. Ehrhoff has a house in Krefeld, the elder of his two daughters go to kindergarten. “Krefeld close to my heart,” confesses the star.’

‘He calculated per season in the U.S. earns as much as the entire Penguins team costs, including coaching staff, Ehrhoff not interfere, “This is just as in North America, one can not simply compare the situation.”‘

‘”We’ll focus on the things we have control over, which is going to be the Rochester Americans,” said Regier, the general manager for the parent club and its affiliate. “We’ll spend a lot of time as a staff with the coaches and with the scouts, kind of doing some realignment or resetting of priorities. We’ll continue to work and figure out ways to become better while we wait for the solution on the CBA side.”‘

‘Hodgson will join the Rochester Americans. He played all of last season in the NHL (63 games with the Vancouver Canucks, 20 for the Sabres after a deadline-day trade) and hasn’t been in the AHL since 2010-11 with the Manitoba Moose.’

‘Ehrhoff reached an agreement on Tuesday to play for his hometown team, the Krefeld Penguins, and was then introduced during a news conference. The deal was reached after the German Ice Hockey League team agreed to pay about $26,000 a month to insure the player in the event of injury.’